Inequality, Innovation and Reform in Higher Education

An important backdrop to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals involves consideration of the impact of a ‘new demographics’ derived from the interaction of two global developments. First, high levels of internal and cross-border mass migration, stimulated by climate change, violence and disparities in wealth and social stability within and between different countries and the global South and North. Second, the phenomenon of increasing longevity and rapidly ageing populations, especially in the developed world.

This book explores the central role that socially engaged higher education might potentially play in helping address these challenges, enhancing lifelong learning opportunities and facilitating more positive outcomes for both individuals and societies. The contributors to this book are scholars of higher education and lifelong learning based in twelve countries from Europe (Germany, Ireland, Slovenia, Sweden and the United Kingdom),the Americas (Brazil, Canada, Mexico and the USA), Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

“This is an extremely timely and important collection focusing on growing migration

and an increase in ageing populations, two major social trends that researchers in higher

education often overlook. The multi-level analysis of the role that higher education can

play, together with the contributions from 12 countries in the North and South make

this one of the most outstanding collections on these themes.”

Rajani Naidoo, Director, International Centre for HE Management, University of Bath.

“Auguste Comte famously observed that demography is destiny. This superb volume

examines the powerful impact of two global demographic trends, and the vital role

universities can play in responding to them. The book describes a range of innovative

and pragmatic responses, while deepening our understanding of why serving these

populations it so important for the health of our communities and our democracies.”

Matthew Hartley, Professor and Associate Dean, GSE, University of Pennsylvania.

“The powerful synergy of the longevity revolution and the technology revolution

necessitates a corresponding education revolution. It is clear that the educational

assets acquired in youth and early adulthood no longer provide sufficient currency

for longer, big change impacted lives. This timely book examines the benefits of creating

an inclusive, rights-based culture of learning at every stage of life.”

Alexandre Kalache, Co-President, International Longevity Centre (ILC) Global Alliance and ILC Brazil.

“How can we understand the current dynamics of migrations and demographic trends

to adapt HE access policies accordingly? By bringing together empirical research in

different countries, this book offers an essential insight on this very sensitive issue

for both individuals and their societies. A must read for researchers and policy makers.”

Gaële Goastellec, Professor of Sociology, University of Lausanne, Chair of the Consortium of Higher Education Researchers.

“The contributions cover an admirably wide range of countries, shedding different lights on these common themes. The book sets a challenging and informed agenda which policy-makers and institutional leaders would do well to take seriously.”

Tom Schuller, Formerly Head of the Centre for Educational Research and Innovation, OECD.

Maria Slowey is a Professor in the School of Policy and Practice and Founding Director of the Higher Education Research Centre, Institute of Education, Dublin City University, Ireland, where she also served as Vice President (Learning Innovation). She was previously Professor, Vice Dean Research and Founding Director of the Centre for Research and Development in Adult and Lifelong Learning, Glasgow University. She has published extensively on the sociology of lifelong learning, widening access and social responsibility in higher education and appointed expert adviser to national and international bodies including the OECD, UNESCO, EU and the Scottish Parliament. An elected Fellow of the British Academy of Social Sciences, she has held many visiting positions (most recently, in Stanford and Nagoya Universities) and plays an active role in learned societies and editorial boards – commencing, in 2020, a five year term as Associate Editor, Studies in Higher Education. In 2015, she was inducted into the International Adult Education Hall of Fame.

Hans G. Schuetze holds a Doctoral Degree (Juris Doctor) in International and Comparative Public Law from the University of Göttingen, Germany, and a Master’s Degree (LLM) from the University of California at Berkeley. He worked in Germany as a lawyer and legal policy expert at two levels of government. Between 1977 and 1986, he was a Policy Analyst at the Centre for Educational Research and Innovation (CERI) of the OECD, Paris. His main responsibilities included policies of higher education, vocational and professional education and training as well as lifelong learning. From 1991 to 2004, he was Professor of Higher Education Research and Policy, Department of Educational Studies and Centre for Policy Studies in Higher Education and Training, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada (now Professor Emeritus). He taught part-time at the University ofOldenburg, Germany (2006–2017), and has been a Visiting Professor at universities in six countries; his last appointment was at the Renmin University of China (since 2017). He is a Member of the Editorial Boards of the Journal of Adult and Continuing Education and of Frontiers of Education in China (Springer).

Tanya Zubrzycki is a Research Assistant at the Higher Education Research Centre (HERC), Dublin City University. Her current research interests include lifelong learning, ageing populations and extended working lives. She is also a doctoral student at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, where she explores the changes associated with an academic profession in the Institutes of Technology in Ireland, in connection with the proposals for the establishment of technological universities. She holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the University of Massachusetts, Boston, and previously worked in the Office of the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research at the University of Puerto Rico as part of a graduate studentship programme.